Charles Ellicott Commentary Daniel 11:33

"And they that are wise among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by spoil, [many] days." — Daniel 11:33 (ASV)

Those who understand.— This is the name by which those are called who were spoken of in the last verse as “knowing their God.” (Psalms 111:10.)

Shall instruct many.— That is, their example shall give instruction to “the many” who yield to the flatteries mentioned in the last verse. They show them where they are drifting. For illustration, see 1 Maccabees 2:1 and following; 2 Maccabees 6:18. Others may be found in the history of any religious persecution.

Yet they shall fall.— The prophecy obviously refers to martyrdom, but whether to the sufferings of “those who understand” or of “those who are instructed” is not clear. Probably both are intended, as appears from Daniel 11:35. The deaths mentioned in 1 Maccabees 1:57 and following, 3:41, 5:13, may be taken as typical of the sufferings of the Church in the last times.